Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/605

CHAPTER LVII

INTERPRETATION OF ROMANS 13: 3–4 (CONTINUED)

(:The justice and righteousness according to Christ is an altogether different matter. The Pagans do not understand it and persecute therefore its adherents.:)Secular Righteousness–Christian Righteousness Paul could not have said, "do good, and you shall be praised for it." Both Christ and his apostles did good, yet they did not ingratiate themselves to the authorities: they were put to death because of their good works. Saint Paul did nothing but good, professing in Rome the name of Christ; he did not ingratiate himself to Nero nor did he win his praises, but on the contrary lost his life by his order. (:Do good, says Paul, and you shall receive the approval not of the authorities but of God. The apostle well makes a distinction between the Justice of faith and that of the rulers when he says,:)

Among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our Glorification. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.¹

(:They crucified him even though he brought people back to life. They hated his message and the Christians of Rome had to

 

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1 1-Cor. 2: 6–8.

 

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